Carton closing machine



Sept. 27, 1966 c. J. BEERT 3,274,971

CARTON CLOSING MACHINE Filed June 4, 1965 2 sheets-Sheet 1 Cfu-1 c mayw Sept. 27, 1966 C, J, BEERT 3,274,971

CARTON CLOS ING MACHINE Filed June 4, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet B United States Patent O 3,274,971 CARTN CIJSING MACHINE Carl I. Baert, Rockford, lill., assigner to Bartelt Engineering Company, Inc., Rockford, lill., a corporation of Delaware Filed .lune 4, 1963, Ser. No. 285,430 2 Claims. (Cl. 118-239) This invention relates to machines for closing cartons having liaps to be folded over .the open ends of the cartons, and relates more particularly to machines of the type including gluing units with drums disposed on opposite sides of the path followed by cartons in passing through the machine and power-rotated in contact with the carton flaps to apply -glue to the flaps prior to folding of the same into carton closing positions.

The general object of the present invention is to mount the gluing units on the machine in a novel manner such that the units are movable quickly and easily into out-offthe-way positions to permit access to the drums and the -adjacent portions of the machine for cleaning and repair.

A more detailed object is to mount the units on the frame `for tilting away from the carton paths, and to provide novel drive connections that accommodate tilting movement of the units without being uncoupled.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with Ithe accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE l is a cross-sectional View taken in a transverse vertical plane through a packaging machine embodying the novel features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective View of a carton.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. l.

FIG. 4 is a View similar to FIG. 1 with the parts in moved positions and with additional parts shown in section.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the drive for the gluing units.

As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the invention is embodied in a machine for closing cartons 10 formed with a plurality of flaps at each end which are held open and in out-of-the-way positions as the cartons are advanced along a predetermined path to be filled, the flaps then being glued and folded inwardly to close the ends of the cartons over the product. The carton shown Ifor purposes of illustration (see FIG. 2) comprises rectangular top and bottom panels 11 and 12, side panels 13 -and 14, and four liaps at each end including top and bottom iiaps 15 and two side iaps 16.

Herein, the cartons 1l) are advanced along a horizontal path along the machine frame 17 by a carrier 18 comprising two endless chains 19 disposed in side-by-side vertical planes and trained around horizontally spaced sprocket Wheels 20` fast on shafts 21 journaled on the frame, the upper horizontal runs of the chains defining the path of the cartons. The chains ride in guide grooves 22 formed in a rail 23 supported on the frame on a horizontal plate 24, and the cartons are held between spaced pairs of lingers 25 fast on and projecting upwardly from the chains. The fingers slide the catrons along the top of a second rail 26 of U-shaped cross-section.

After the product has been inserted in the cartons at a iilling station (not shown), the 'filled cartons pass through a gluing station 27 with the iiaps 15, 16 at both ends of the cartons held open and disposed in vertical planes on opposite sides of the path, to be glued and eventually folded into closed positions to enclose the product in the cartons. To apply glue to the flaps, two gluing units 28 and 29 are mounted on the frame 17 on opposite sides of the carrier 118 and include upright gluing drums 30 journaled on the frame to rotate about vertical axes with the peripheries of the drums tangent to the plane of the flaps to roll on the latter as each carton passes. The construction, mounting and drive arrangement of the two gluing units are substantially the same, so only one ywill be described in detail herein, like reference numbers being applied to corresponding parts of the other.

Each gluing drum 30 is partially enclosed in a box-like casing 31 having an open side facing toward the carrier 18 with one side portion of the drum projecting Ithrough the open side to engage the carton flaps. The drum is supported on the upper end of a drive shaft 32l which projects downwardly through and is journaled in a normally horizontal supporting platform 33 for rotation about a vertical axis. AEncircling each drum in vertical alinement with the top and bottom flaps 15 of the cartons on the carrier are rows of perforations 34 through which glue is supplied to the periphery of the drum in a manner well known in the art for application to the flaps as the drum rolls on the flaps. A suitable power actuator 36 is provided to rotate the drums as the cartons pass.

Herein, this actuator takes the form of a horizontal power shaft (FIG. 1) driven with the machine and driving an endless chain 37 trained around a sprocket wheel 33 fast on the shaft 36 and around a second sprocket wheel 39 fast on a parallel stub shaft 4l)` journaled in a gear box 41. A vertical shaft 42 geared to the shaft 4t) carries a sprocket wheel 43 rotating in the plane of two sprocket wheels 44 and 45 disposed below the respective gluing units 28 and 29 and fast onupright stub shafts 46 journaled in bearings 47 on a horizontal frame plate 48 below the carrier. An endless chain 49 is trained around the three sprockets 43, 44 and 45 to rotate the sprockets 44 and 45 in opposite directions. Through drive connections 50 between these sprockets and the shafts 32, the drums 30 also are rotated in opposite directions.

In accordance with the present invention, the two gluing units 28 and 29 are mounted on the frame 17 for tilting away lfrom 4the carrier 18 into out-of-the-way positions for easy access to the carrier .and the drums 3tlfor cleaning or repairs, and the drive connections 50 are formed in a novel manner to accommodate back land forth tilting of the `gluing units without being disconnected therefrom. For these purposes, the platforms 33 are pivoted on the frame for swinging about fulcrums 51 spaced from and generally parallel to the carrier 18 and in this instance below the platforms, and each of the dri-ve connections 50 comprises a first universal joint 52 mounted on the lower end of the shaft 32, a second universal joint 53 mounted on the hub of the associated sprocket wheel 44, 45 and an axially extensible shaft 54 extending between and coupled to the two universal joints. With this arrangement, the drive connections .accommodate all swinging motion of the drum shafts during tilting of the gluing runits and thereby eliminate the necessity of uncoupling and recoupling before and after tilting.

In the present instance, each supporting platform 33 is mounted on the frame `17 by means of a yoke formed by two plates 55 straddling the casing 311 and secured to an arm 56 extending downwardly from the outer side of the casing. The lower end of the arm 56 is welded to a sleeve 57 telescoped over a horizontal shaft 58 fast in and projecting from the opposite sides of a block 59 upstanding from a plate 6l) fast on a horizontal side rail 61 of the frame wel] below the gluing unit.

When the platform is generally horizontal as shown in FIG. 1, an adjustable stop 62 comprising a bolt 63 threaded through a post 64 upstanding from the block 59 and held in place by a nut 65 abuts against the inner side of the arm 56 to prevent further movement thereof toward the carrier. By adjusting the length of the projecting end portion of the bolt 63, the normal spacing of the drums 30 is adjusted for different lengths of cartons alti.

To hold the gluing units rigidly in place, a manually operable latch 66 (see FIG. 3) is provided for securing the arm 56 to the post 64. In this instance, each latch includes a bolt 67 normally disposed against the inner side 68 of the post as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. This bolt is fast on rthe end of a rod 69 projecting through a notch 70 in the post and through a bore 71 inthe arm S6. The threaded end of the rod projects through a cylindrical hub 72 seated in a cylindrical recess 73 in the outer side of the arm. Nuts 74 threaded on the rod clamp the latter to the hub. At least one bolt 75 projecting through an arcuate slot 76 (FIG. 3) in the hub '72 and threaded into the arm holds the hub in the recess while permitting turning of the hub relative to the arm. An elongated handle 77 is secured to each hub and projects radially outwardly therefrom to facilitate turning of the latch.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the bolt 67 is longer than the width of the notch 70 to latch the gluing unit 28, 29 in place when disposed crosswise of the notch but is narrower than the width of the notch to pass freely therethrough when turned through ninety degrees to the position shown in broken lines in FIG. 6. Thus, latching of the units in operative positions is accomplished by swinging them upwardly and inwardly against the stops 62 at which time the -bolts 67 have passed through the notches 70, and then simply turning the handles 77 until the bolts are generally horizontal. To swing the units away from the'carrier, the bolts are turned back to the vertical positions and the units are pulled downwardly and outwardly with the handles 77. The lower edge of each arm 56 is beveled at 78 to abut against the top of the mounting plate 611 and limit such outward swinging as shown in FIG. 4.

The universal joints 52 and 53 may be of any well known construction capable of accommodating substantial angularity between the coupled parts. Each upper joint 52 is pinned at 7 9 to the lower end of the associated shaft 32 and at 80 to the upper end of a sleeve 8l having an interior of rectangular cross-section. Each lower joint S3 is fast on the hub of the associated sprocket wheel 44, 45 and pinned at 82 tothe lower end of a bar 83 having an exterior cross-section corresponding to the interior crosssection of the sleeve 81 and sized to slide freely therein. Thus, the sleeves and bars form the extensible shafts 54.

With the foregoing arrangement, it will be seen that the lower end of each shaft 32 swings upwardly and inwardly as the gluing unit 28, 29 is tilted from the operating position (FIG. l) to the out-of-the-way position (FIG. 4). The joint 52 accommodates the increasing angularity between the shaft 32 and the sleeve 81. while the shaft S4 extends to accommodate the increased spacing between the two universal joints. At the same time, the joint 53 permits the extensible shaft to lean inwardly as the upper joint swings inwardly. As the gluing unit is swung back to the operating position, the extensible shaft contracts and the two universal joints permit the two shafts to pivot back into alinement with the sprocket wheels 44, 4S.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the gluing units 28, 29 can be swung quickly and easily into and out of the operative positions for cleaning or repairs without the necessity of uncoupling or recoupling the drive connections 59. Thus, the units and the space between the units are readily accessible in service use of the machine.

I claim as any invention:

I. In a machine for gluing and closing the flaps on the ends of cartons, the combination of, a frame, a carrier on said frame for .advancing cartons along a horizontal path with the flaps at one end of the cartons open and disposed in a vertical plane paralleling said path on one side thereof, a drum disposed on said one side with the periphery of said drum normally tangent to said plane to r-oll on the flaps of passing cartons, means for supplying glue to the periphery of said drum for transfer to said naps, a support disposed below said drum, a shaft fast at one end on and coaxial with said drum and journaled on said support for rotation about its axis, a power actuator for rotating said shaft to roll said drum along the passing aps, means pivoting said support on said frame for swinging about a fulcrum spaced from and generally parallel to said path to tilt said drum away from said plane into an out-of-the-way position, and a drive connection between said shaft and said power actuator including a first universal joint mounted on the lower end of said shaft, a second universal joint journaled on said frame below said 'first joint and connected to said actuator to be rotated thereby, and an axially extensible shaf-t extending between and coupled to said joints whereby said drive connection tilts and extends to accommodate swinging of said lower shaft end as said drum tilts to said out-of-the-way position.

2. In a machine for closing the flaps on the ends of cartons, the combination of, a frame, a carrier on said frame for advancing cartons along a predetermined path with the flaps at one end of the cartons disposed in a plane paralleling said path on one side thereof, a drum disposed on said one side with the periphery of said drum normally tangent to said plane to roll on the flaps of passing cartons, a shaft fast at one end on and coaxial with said drum, a support disposed on said one side, said shaft being journaled on said support for rotation about its axis, a power actuator for rotating said shaft to roll said drum along the passing flaps, means pivoting said support on said frame for swinging about a f-ulcrum generally parallel to said path to tilt said drum away from said plane into an out-of-the-way position, and a drive connection between said shaft and said power actuator including a rst universal joint mounted on said shaft, a second universal joint rotatably mounted on said frame in general alinernent with said shaft and said lirst joint in the normal position of said drum and connected to said actuator to be rotated thereby, and au axially extensible shaft extending between and coupled to said joints whereby said drive connection tilts and extends to accommodate swinging of said drum into said out-of-the-way position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,593,920 4/1952 Reynolds. 2,911,942 J11/1959 Gross 118-212 X CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

L. MACHLIN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A MACHINE FOR GLUING AND CLOSING THE FLAPS ON THE ENDS OF CARTONS, THE COMBINATION OF, A FRAME, A CARRIER ON SAID FRAME FOR ADVANCING CARTONS ALONG A HORIZONTAL PATH WITH THE FLAPS AT ONE END OF THE CARTONS OPEN AND DISPOSED IN A VERTICAL PLANE PARALLEL SAID PATH ON ONE SIDE THEREOF, A DRUM DISPOSED ON SAID ONE SIDE WITH THE PERIPHERY OF SAID DRUM NORMALLY TANGENT TO SAID PLANE TO ROLL ON THE FLAPS OF PASSING CARTONS, MEANS FOR SUPPLYING GLUE TO THE PERIPHERY OF SAID DRUM FOR TRANSFER TO SAID FLAPS, A SUPPORT DISPOSED BELOW SAID DRUM, A SHAFT FAST AT ONE END ON AND COAXIAL WITH SAID DRUM AND JOURNALED ON SAID SUPPORT FOR ROTATION ABOUT ITS AXIS, A POWER ACTUATOR FOR ROTATING SAID SHAFT TO ROLL SAID DRUM ALONG THE PASSING FLAPS, MEANS PIVOTING SAID SUPPORT ON SAID FRAME FOR SWINGING ABOUT A FULCRUM SPACED FROM AND GENERALLY PARALLEL TO SAID PATH TO TILT SAID DRUM AWAY FROM SAID PLANE INTO AN OUT-OF-THE-WAY POSITION, AND A DRIVE CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID SHAFT AND SAID POWER ACTUATOR INCLUDING A FIRST UNIVERSAL JOINT MOUNTED ON THE LOWER END OF SAID SHAFT, A SECOND UNIVERSAL JOINT JOURNALED ON SAID FRAME BELOW SAID FIRST JOINT AND CONNECTED TO SAID ACTUATOR TO BE ROTATED THEREBY, AND AN AXIALLY EXTENSIBLE SHAFT EXTENDING BETWEEN AND COUPLED TO SAID JOINTS WHEREBY SAID DRIVE CONNECTION TILTS AND EXTENDS TO ACCOMMODATE SWINGING ON SAID LOWER SHAFT END AS SAID DRUM TILTS TO SAID OUT-OF-THE-WAY POSITION. 